Never mind how Arkady Raventon's eyes melted when Ghost reached out his hands and said, Can I hold him?
Arkady put the skull into Ghost's hands! Outside, he could see a few lights: other windows in other houses, more houses beyond; houses with well-kept lawns and shade trees, like the one he lived in; houses with swing sets and poured concrete driveways and half-baths and redwood sundecks; streets travelled by Volvos and Toyotas picking the kids up from day care, going to the supermarket the health club, the mall, or, if they were bored enough, the liquor store?